Personalized, Automated Receptionist

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and computer program products for creating a personalized, automated, receptionist are provided herein. A method for providing an automated receptionist for a host user includes obtaining one or more images of a work environment of the host user; processing the one or more images to determine if a visitor is present in the work environment; and if the visitor is determined to be present in the work environment, notifying the host user that the visitor is present in the work environment, wherein at least one of the steps are performed by at least one hardware device. The method may be initiated, for example, when the host user is not present in the work environment. The automated receptionist can optionally (i) provide a greeting to the visitor; (ii) enable communication between the visitor and the host user; and/or (iii) provide one or more information items to the visitor when the host user is not present.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/582,517, filed Dec. 24, 2014, incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to information technology,and, more particularly, to techniques for providing a personalized,automated receptionist in a work environment.

BACKGROUND

A receptionist is an employee of an organization that typically greetsvisitors, responds to visitor inquiries, answers telephone calls,performs an access control function and helps to direct visitors totheir desired destination within the organization. A number oftechniques have been proposed or suggested for automating one or more ofthe functions that have traditionally been performed by a livereceptionist. For example, an automated attendant (often referred to asa virtual receptionist) allows callers to be automatically transferredto a telephone extension without interacting with a live operator orreceptionist. Many automated attendant systems provide a menu systemwhere callers can press an indicated number to reach a desireddestination, such as a sales department or a service department.

Nonetheless, a need remains for a system that allows an individual,referred to herein as a host user, in a working environment, such as anindividual office or a cubicle, to have a personalized, automated,receptionist. For example, the automated receptionist can assist avisitor even when the host user is not present and can provide one ormore of the functions that are typically performed by a livereceptionist.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, techniques for a personalized,automated, receptionist are provided. An exemplary computer-implementedmethod for providing an automated receptionist for a host user caninclude steps of obtaining one or more images of a work environment ofthe host user; processing the one or more images to deteimine if avisitor is present in the work environment; and if the visitor isdetermined to be present in the work environment, notifying the hostuser that the visitor is present in the work environment, wherein atleast one of the steps are performed by at least one hardware device.The method may be initiated, for example, when the host user is notpresent in the work environment.

During an exemplary training phase, an association can be obtained ofone or more faces in the one or more images and one or more names of theat least one visitor. In addition, the automated receptionist canoptionally learn one or more commands from the host user.

In further variations, the automated receptionist can optionally beconfigured to (i) provide a greeting to the visitor, for example,including a name of the visitor; (ii) enable communication between thevisitor and the host user; and/or (iii) provide one or more informationitems to the visitor when the host user is not in the work environment.

Another aspect of the invention or elements thereof can be implementedin the form of an article of manufacture tangibly embodying computerreadable instructions which, when implemented, cause a computer to carryout a plurality of method steps, as described herein. Furthermore,another aspect of the invention or elements thereof can be implementedin the form of an apparatus including a memory and at least oneprocessor that is coupled to the memory and configured to perform notedmethod steps. Yet further, another aspect of the invention or elementsthereof can be implemented in the form of means for carrying out themethod steps described herein, or elements thereof; the means caninclude hardware module(s) or a combination of hardware and softwaremodules, wherein the software modules are stored in a tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium (or multiple such media).

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary work environment in which the disclosedautomated receptionist may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary implementation of alearning process incorporating aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary implementation of agreeting process incorporating aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of an exemplary computer system on which atleast one embodiment of the invention can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention provide methods, apparatus and computerprogram products that allow a host user in a working environment to havea personalized, automated, receptionist. As used herein, the term “hostuser” refers to the worker for whom the automated receptionist is to beemployed. The automated receptionist can assist a visitor even when thehost user is not present and can provide one or more of the servicesthat are normally associated with a live receptionist, such as greetingvisitors, responding to visitor inquiries, answering telephone calls,performing an access control function and otherwise assisting visitors.

In this manner, if the host user briefly steps out of his or her office,a potential visitor will not leave because the host user is not in hisor her office. In one exemplary implementation, the automatedreceptionist can notify the visitor that the host user has stepped outfor a moment but will be returning shortly and can notify the host userthat a visitor has arrived (as well as potentially notifying the hostuser of the identity of the visitor). If the host user has stepped outto attend a meeting, the automated receptionist can check the calendarof the host user, let the visitor know that the host user is in ameeting and also indicate when the meeting is expected to end. Infurther variations, the automated receptionist can also optionallyprovide information to the visitor and/or share a document or otherinformation that the host user is working on with the visitor.

Moreover, the automated receptionist can provide an audio and/or videochannel between the host user and the visitor. For example, the hostuser can talk to the automated receptionist over an audio or videochannel, initiated, for example, via the smart phone of the host userand anything communicated by the host user can be relayed to thevisitor, and conversely by virtue of there being an open two-waychannel. In this way, the automated receptionist with built-in speakersand microphone can act like a just-in-time speakerphone to communicatewith the visitor (or not, at the discretion of the host user).

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary work environment 100, such as an officeor cubicle, in which the automated receptionist 150 may be implemented.As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary automated receptionist 150 comprises avideo sensor 110, such as a camera, web camera, or a three-dimensional(3D) sensing platform, such as the PrimeSense™ sensing platform,positioned in the work environment 100, and a processing unit 120. Theexemplary video sensor 110 has a field-of-view 115. The exemplary workenvironment 100 may comprise a small office and the host user may beseated at a desk 105 in an office chair 108 directly in front of thevideo sensor 110. The video sensor 110 and chair 108 may face out to adoorway 104 (or other entranceway) in which visitors may enter theoffice.

As discussed further below in conjunction with FIG. 4, The exemplaryprocessing unit 120 comprises a processor coupled to a memory. Theprocessor may comprise a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA or other type of processing circuitry, as well as portions orcombinations of such circuitry elements, and the memory, which may beviewed as an example of a “computer program product” having executablecomputer program code embodied therein, may comprise RAM, ROM or othertypes of memory, in any combination. Also optionally included in theprocessing unit 120 is network interface circuitry, which is used tointerface the processing device with a network and other systemcomponents, and may comprise conventional transceivers.

The video sensor 110 can be positioned, for example, on a stand behindthe desk 105 with a view 115 of the exemplary work environment 100. Asdiscussed hereinafter, the exemplary automated receptionist 150 canemploy a learning process 200, as discussed further below in conjunctionwith FIG. 2, to learn different visitors over time and when particularvisitors come to the exemplary work environment 100. In addition, theexemplary work environment 100 performs a greeting process 300, asdiscussed further below in conjunction with FIG. 3, to greet one or morevisitors. In addition, the exemplary work environment 100 can optionallyprocess one or more predefined verbal commands from the host user usinga speech transcription engine 130, such as “I will be back in 5 minutes”or “John Smith may stop by while I am away.” In addition, the exemplarywork environment 100 can process one or more of a calendar, email andcontacts 140 of the user and/or a document database 145 of the hostuser. Finally the automated receptionist can respond back with littletidbits of information, such as “[the host user's name] is expected backin 5 minutes” or “Hello Mr. Smith, [the host user's name] was expectingyou” using a text-to-speech engine 135.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary implementation of alearning process 200 incorporating aspects of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 2, the exemplary learning process 200 initially samplesthe video stream during step 210 to extract one or more faces, such asfaces of visitors and/or faces of the host user. The video stream may besampled, for example, at a rate of approximately one frame per secondand speech-to-text transcription of the audio stream may be performedcontinuously. Faces can be extracted from the image, for example, usingknown methods of machine vision for face extraction.

A test is performed during step 220 to determine if the host user and/ora visitor is present in the image, for example, using patterned infraredsensing techniques that provide point cloud/depth of field information,in conjunction with standard machine vision methods to try to recognizeheads, shoulders, or other salient body features. When the host user ispresent, for example, the image of the exemplary work environment 100will typically have many more close points than when the host user isnot present. The values associated with “close” and “many more points,”can be learned over time using standard machine learning techniques, aswould be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

A further test is performed during step 240 to determine if both thehost user and a visitor are present. If it is determined during step 240that both the host user and a visitor are present, a conversation can beassumed and a predefined duration (e.g., the first 10-15 seconds) of theaudio signal is processed during step 245 to mine for salutationsincluding personal names to label such images with candidate personalnames for the visitor and/or the host user. Over time, using machinelearning methods and/or feedback from the host user, the names of thehost user and visitors can be learned. The universe of salutations willgenerally have many instances of these names. Of course, both the hostuser and visitor can have the same name and such circumstances can belearned (e.g., there might be two instances of “Hi Bob” in the capturedintroductory salutations).

Visitor face recognition is performed during step 250, using standardmethods. Over subsequent visits, facial images of visitors can beassociated with learned names of the visitors during step 260, forexample, using machine learning techniques. In a further variation, thehost user or another user can provide the names of recognized facesduring step 260. It is noted that several instances of the same personmay be recognized (for example, due to various “looks,” such as varioushair lengths, and either having or not having facial hair). Thus, asingle name can map to multiple “looks” of the same person. In oneexemplary implementation, each look for the same person is placed in thesame bucket or equivalence class, indicating that a match on any of thelooks would indicate the presence of the known individual.

When a given confidence threshold is exceeded, the knowledge of the facelabel is optionally tested during step 270, for example, by testing thecandidate face label when both the visitor and host user are present(e.g., try “Hi Bob” when Bob is thought to be present). The testingperformed during step 270 can optionally be performed with userfeedback.

One or more facial images and a first name are optionally correlatedduring step 280 with the host user's calendar, email and/or contacts tolearn the last names of visitors (optionally employing user feedback asin step 270).

Finally, predefined verbal commands from the host user are optionallylearned during step 290, such as “I will be back in 5 minutes” or “JohnSmith may stop by while I am away.” These commands can be supplied as aseries of templates, in the first case, the statement “I will be back in5 minutes” may be an example from the template “I will be back in Xminutes” that can then be used to provide subsequent visitors withinformation about when to expect the host user's return. If a visitorcomes by 10 minutes after the host user issued the command “I will beback in X minutes” then the automated receptionist knows that a viablegreeting for the visitor may be to indicate that the host user isscheduled to retun in X-10 minutes (assuming X>10). Analogously, thecommand “John Smith may stop by while I am away” may be an example froma tempate of the form “XXX may stop by while I am away” that enables thesystem to look for someone that may be named “John Smith” and greet themaccordingly.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary implementation of agreeting process 300 incorporating aspects of the present invention. Asshown in FIG. 3, the exemplary greeting process 300 initially performs atest during step 320 to determine if the host user is in the exemplarywork environment 100. If it is determined during step 320 that the hostuser is in the exemplary work environment 100, then program controlcontinues to monitor the exemplary work environment 100 until the hostuser leaves. If, however, it is determined during step 320 that the hostuser is not in the exemplary work environment 100, then the automatedreceptionist 150 is automatically enabled during step 330 to greetvisitors based on facial recognition.

The exemplary greeting process 300 samples the video stream during step340 and performs facial recognition using the features learned by thelearning process 200 to recognize one or more faces, such as faces ofvisitors. A test is performed during step 350 to determine if a visitoris present in the image, for example, using patterned infrared sensingtechniques that provide point cloud/depth of field information. If avisitor is detected in the image during step 350, the greeting process300 can also determine if the visitor is known during step 350 (i.e., ifthe name of the recognized face has been learned by the learning process200).

The visitor is greeted during step 360, by name, if the name isavailable. The host user is notified of the visitor during step 370, andimages can optionally be presented to the host user of the visitor(especially when the visitor is not known). The candidate name of thevisitor is optionally presented to the host user for validation duringstep 370 and/or the host user can be queried for the name of thevisitor.

The exemplary greeting process 300 optionally enables communicationbetween the host user and the visitor during step 380 (e.g., cellular,video chat, or any other voice and/or video communication). Theexemplary greeting process 300 optionally presents one or more documentsor other work product to the visitor that the visitor and host user haveworked on during step 390 (optionally with appropriate access controlsevaluated by the automated receptionist 150, such as an authenticationor approval authorization from the host user).

In this manner, aspects of the present invention provide an automatedreceptionist 150 that avoids a potential visitor from stopping by anoffice and then leaving because the host user has stepped away briefly.In various embodiments, the host user can activate the automatedreceptionist 150 before leaving the office and then when a visitor stopsby, the automated receptionist 150 can notify the visitor that the hostuser has stepped out briefly but will be returning. In addition, theautomated receptionist 150 can optionally provide additional greetingsand/or information to the visitor, such as a shared work product thatthe host user has been working on. At the same time, the automatedreceptionist 150 can notify the host user that the visitor has arrived(and potentially identifying the visitor). The automated receptionist150 can also optionally enable communications between the absent hostuser and the visitor, until the host user retuns to the office.Additionally, the automated receptionist can provide a simple means fora visitor who may be unknown to the host user to leave a message for thehost user, analogous to a voice recording on a standard phone but withthe additional value of providing visual information about the visitor.

The techniques depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 can also, as described herein,include providing a system, wherein the system includes distinctsoftware modules, each of the distinct software modules being embodiedon a tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium. All of themodules (or any subset thereof) can be on the same medium, or each canbe on a different medium, for example. The modules can include any orall of the components shown in the figures and/or described herein. Inan aspect of the invention, the modules can run, for example, on ahardware processor. The method steps can then be carried out using thedistinct software modules of the system, as described above, executingon a hardware processor. Further, a computer program product can includea tangible computer-readable recordable storage medium with code adaptedto be executed to carry out at least one method step described herein,including the provision of the system with the distinct softwaremodules.

Additionally, the techniques depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 can beimplemented via a computer program product that can include computeruseable program code that is stored in a computer readable storagemedium in a data processing system, and wherein the computer useableprogram code was downloaded over a network from a remote data processingsystem. Also, in an aspect of the invention, the computer programproduct can include computer useable program code that is stored in acomputer readable storage medium in a server data processing system, andwherein the computer useable program code is downloaded over a networkto a remote data processing system for use in a computer readablestorage medium with the remote system.

An aspect of the invention or elements thereof can be implemented in theform of an apparatus including a memory and at least one processor thatis coupled to the memory and configured to perform exemplary methodsteps.

Additionally, an aspect of the present invention can make use ofsoftware running on a general purpose computer or workstation. Withreference to FIG. 4, such an implementation might employ, for example, aprocessor 402, a memory 404, and an input/output interface formed, forexample, by a display 406 and a keyboard 408. The term “processor” asused herein is intended to include any processing device, such as, forexample, one that includes a CPU (central processing unit) and/or otherforms of processing circuitry. Further, the term “processor” may referto more than one individual processor. The term “memory” is intended toinclude memory associated with a processor or CPU, such as, for example,RAM (random access memory), ROM (read only memory), a fixed memorydevice (for example, hard drive), a removable memory device (forexample, diskette), a flash memory and the like. In addition, the phrase“input/output interface” as used herein, is intended to include, forexample, a mechanism for inputting data to the processing unit (forexample, mouse), and a mechanism for providing results associated withthe processing unit (for example, printer). The processor 402, memory404, and input/output interface such as display 406 and keyboard 408 canbe interconnected, for example, via bus 410 as part of a data processingunit 412. Suitable interconnections, for example via bus 410, can alsobe provided to a network interface 414, such as a network card, whichcan be provided to interface with a computer network, and to a mediainterface 416, such as a diskette or CD-ROM drive, which can be providedto interface with media 418.

Accordingly, computer software including instructions or code forperforming the methodologies of the invention, as described herein, maybe stored in associated memory devices (for example, ROM, fixed orremovable memory) and, when ready to be utilized, loaded in part or inwhole (for example, into RAM) and implemented by a CPU. Such softwarecould include, but is not limited to, firmware, resident software,microcode, and the like.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor 402 coupled directly orindirectly to memory elements 404 through a system bus 410. The memoryelements can include local memory employed during actual implementationof the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which providetemporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce thenumber of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage duringimplementation.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards 408,displays 406, pointing devices, and the like) can be coupled to thesystem either directly (such as via bus 410) or through intervening I/Ocontrollers (omitted for clarity).

Network adapters such as network interface 414 may also be coupled tothe system to enable the data processing system to become coupled toother data processing systems or remote printers or storage devicesthrough intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modems andEthernet cards are just a few of the currently available types ofnetwork adapters.

As used herein, including the claims, a “server” includes a physicaldata processing system (for example, system 412 as shown in FIG. 4)running a server program. It will be understood that such a physicalserver may or may not include a display and keyboard.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method and/or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, as noted herein, aspects of the present invention may takethe form of a computer program product that may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (for example, lightpulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like,and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It should be noted that any of the methods described herein can includean additional step of providing a system comprising distinct softwaremodules embodied on a computer readable storage medium; the modules caninclude, for example, any or all of the components detailed herein. Themethod steps can then be carried out using the distinct software modulesand/or sub-modules of the system, as described above, executing on ahardware processor 402. Further, a computer program product can includea computer-readable storage medium with code adapted to be implementedto carry out at least one method step described herein, including theprovision of the system with the distinct software modules.

In any case, it should be understood that the components illustratedherein may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, orcombinations thereof, for example, application specific integratedcircuit(s) (ASICS), functional circuitry, an appropriately programmedgeneral purpose digital computer with associated memory, and the like.Given the teachings of the invention provided herein, one of ordinaryskill in the related art will be able to contemplate otherimplementations of the components of the invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition ofanother feature, integer, step, operation, element, component, and/orgroup thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

At least one aspect of the present invention may provide a beneficialeffect such as, for example, controlling the activities of a systemadministrator or another user on an endpoint device.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing an automated receptionistfor a host user, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining one ormore images of a work environment of said host user; processing said oneor more images to determine if a visitor is present in said workenvironment; and if said visitor is determined to be present in saidwork environment, notifying said host user that said visitor is presentin said work environment, wherein at least one of said steps areperformed by at least one hardware device.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of obtaining an association of one or morefaces in said one or more images and one or more names of said at leastone visitor.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step ofevaluating at least one of said obtained associations of said one ormore faces and said one or more names of said at least one visitor. 4.The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of learning one ormore commands for said automated receptionist from said host user. 5.The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of initiating saidmethod when said host user is not in said work environment.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a greetingto said visitor.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said greetingincludes a name of said visitor.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of enabling communication between said visitor andsaid host user, wherein said host user is not in said work environment.9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing oneor more information items to said visitor when said host user is not insaid work environment.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said one ormore information items are provided to said visitor following adetermination that said visitor has authorization for accessing said oneor more information items.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said stepof notifying said host user that said visitor is present in said workenvironment further comprises a notification of an identity of saidvisitor.